The food habits of four small‐sized species of Mormyridae from the floodplain pools of the Sokoto‐Rima river basin, Nigeria

Hyslop, E. J.

doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.1986.tb05152.x

Cited by 16 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…The present study explores seasonal and size-related patterns of resource exploitation within the piscivore guild of a diverse neotropical fish community. Although varying greatly in both duration and breadth of taxonomic comparison, several recent studies have shown marked resource partitioning among tropical fishes (Angermeier & Karr 1983, Power 1983, Moyle & Senanayake 1984, Schut et al 1984, Watson & Balon 1984, Araujo-Lima et al 1986, Hyslop 1986, Prejs & Prejs 1987, Nice & Taphorn 1988. Fish populations frequently are size structured due to small hatching or neonate size and continuous growth.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ontogenetic diet shifts and resource partitioning among piscivorous fishes in the Venezuelan ilanos

Winemiller

1989

Environ Biol Fish

326

311

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SynopsisResource utilization by nine abundant piscivores from a diverse tropical fish assemblage was examined over the course of a year. All nine species exhibited peak reproduction during the early wet season and a similar sequence of size-dependent shifts from a diet composed primarily of microcrustacea, to aquatic insects, and finally fishes. Three piranha species specialized on fish fins, particularly at subadult size classes (SL 30-80mm). Gradual dessication of the floodplain during the transition season was associated with fish growth, increased fish density, and decreased aquatic primary productivity and availability of invertebrate prey. Based on 118 resource categories, average pairwise diet overlap was low during all three seasons: wet, transition, and dry. Of 72 species pairings, only one pair of fin-nipping piranhas exhibited high overlap simultaneously on three niche dimensions: food type, food size, and habitat. Adults of two species, a gymnotid knifefish and pimelodid catfish, were largely nocturnal. Patterns of habitat utilization indicate that piranhas may restrict diurnal use of the open-water region by other piscivores. Collective diet overlap of individual piscivore species with the other eight feeding guild members and collective overlaps with the entire fish community each revealed two basic seasonal trends. Four species that showed an early switch to piscivory also showed a high degree of diet separation with both the guild and community at large on a year-round basis. The five remaining species showed lowest collective diet overlaps during the transition season when availability of invertebrates was reduced and fish densities were maximal. Whereas predation may play a role in habitat separation, diffuse competition for food resources during the approximately four-month transition season probably is the principal factor yielding patterns of diet specialization.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ontogenetic diet shifts and resource partitioning among piscivorous fishes in the Venezuelan ilanos

Winemiller

1989

Environ Biol Fish

326

311

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“…The young stages of fishes which are particularly in need of zooplankton and other small fauna besides plants, have, with few exceptions adapted to living in the shallow littoral of lakes and reservoirs (Stewart, 1988;Robotham, 1990). Newly flooded shallows of river floodplains (Balogun, 1986;Green, 1985) or floodplain pools (Hyslop, 1986). However juveniles may move temporarily into the pelagic in search of food or to avoid predators.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Zooplankton, fish and fisheries in tropical freshwaters

Fernando

1994

Hydrobiologia

127

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About 40% of all fish species occur in freshwater, although only 1% of the globe is occupied by freshwaters. The tropics harbour a high percentage of these fishes. Freshwater zooplankton on the other hand is far less diverse than its marine counterpart and the tropics do not harbour a markedly high percentage of freshwater species either. The antecedents of freshwater zooplankton appear to have come from riverine and terrestrial habitats via temporary habitats (ponds, floodplains). The present zooplankton composition has also been shaped by, among other factors, the highly efficient zooplanktivorous modern teleosts which have restricted the formerly widespread Branchiopoda mainly to fishless freshwaters. Those Branchiopoda frequently co-existing with fishes (Cladocera) have their size composition strongly influenced by fish predation. Circumstantial evidence indicates that pelagic zooplankton (Cladocera, Copepoda, Rotifera) appear to provide a relatively scarce food supply relative to the littoral region for the early stages of fishes. Also, unpredictability of zooplankton may be involved here. These factors have led to the loss of planktonic eggs and the siting of fish breeding in shallow littoral situations, where other animal foods besides zooplankton are also available, especially for later stages of juvenile fish. The Ostariophysi breed in the shallow expanses of flood waters while the Cichlidae, some of which breed like Ostariophysi, also breed in standing waters in the littoral of lakes or floodplains. In all these locations zooplankton and benthic organisms, especially insects, are available. The cichlids are, in addition, provided with parental care. Predation on young fishes is also reduced by these strategies. Young fishes may also be adapted to feed on patches of zooplankton and other food in their breeding grounds. Tropical pelagic clupeids and cyprinids may breed continuously. Some of these clupeids in rivers breed at low water.Zooplankton, supplemented by other animal food is more critical to achieving the potential fish yields in the tropics than in temperate freshwaters because fish yields in the tropics can be very high indeed. The high metabolic rate of young fishes in the tropics adds to the demand for food. Tropical freshwaters have a relatively high primary production but a low zooplankton/phytoplankton ratio. Zooplankton is kept small in size and biomass by continuous predation. Herbivorous fishes can sustain very high fish yields in the tropics but they must have a high fecundity and high survival of young produced seasonally, mainly in rivers or even continuously as in lakes and reservoirs to weather predation. Rich littoral zooplankton and benthos combined with omnivory and a higher efficiency in the use of the available animal food by newly hatched fishes may be critical factors linking fish yields to zooplankton in tropical freshwaters. The ability of herbivorous tilapias to give very high fish yields in shallow tropical lakes may also be due to their efficient use of animal food, alga...

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“…The predominant freshwater fish fauna of the northern Nigeria region is that of the flood-plain. The biology of the fish species predominant there has received greater attention (Holden, 1963;Hyslop, 1986Hyslop, , 1987. The Kandole Shela, in contrast to the major rivers of the Sokoto area, does not undergo extensive horizontal flooding, due mainly to the diversion of water for irrigation purposes and to the relatively steep gradient of the stream which encourages rapid discharge during periods of rainfall.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aspects of the biology of Hemichromis bimaculatus from a small stream in Nigeria

Hyslop¹

1987

Journal of Fish Biology

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The diet, condition factor, gonadosomatic index, 1ength:weight and 1ength:fecundity relationships of a Hemichromis bimacularus population from the Kandole Shela, a small stream in northern Nigeria, are described. In dietary terms the species is a generalized invertebrate predator. chiefly taking food categories in relation to their abundance throughout the year. The pattern of egg maturation indicates that repeated spawning occurs, and it is argued that this is an appropriate reproductive strategy for the habitat occupied.

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The food habits of four small‐sized species of Mormyridae from the floodplain pools of the Sokoto‐Rima river basin, Nigeria

Cited by 16 publications

References 4 publications

Ontogenetic diet shifts and resource partitioning among piscivorous fishes in the Venezuelan ilanos

Ontogenetic diet shifts and resource partitioning among piscivorous fishes in the Venezuelan ilanos

Zooplankton, fish and fisheries in tropical freshwaters

Aspects of the biology of Hemichromis bimaculatus from a small stream in Nigeria

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